News/Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14 , 2003

Hancock Bank CEO to open NASDAQ tomorrow

GULFPORT, MS (May 14, 2002) - Hancock Bank President and Chief Executive Officer George A. Schloegel will preside with NASDAQ Senior Vice President Bob Power to open The NASDAQ Stock Market tomorrow morning, Thursday, May 15, 2003, at the MarketSite, NASDAQ's New York City broadcast studio at 4 Times Square, corner of 43rd Street and Broadway.

The market open ceremony, scheduled from 9:20 a.m. - 9:35 a.m., EST, coincides with Hancock management's East Coast sweep to promote the value of Hancock Holding Company stock and Gulf South economic development. Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC), parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi) and Hancock Bank of Louisiana, has assets of over $4.0 billion.

Founded 1899, Hancock Bank consistently ranks as one of America's strongest, safest five-star financial institutions. Hancock Bank operates 104 full-service offices and over 140 automated teller machines throughout South Mississippi and Louisiana as well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, Hancock Mortgage Corporation, and Harrison Finance Company.

Additional corporate information and on-line banking and bill pay services are available at www.hancockbank.com.

Feed Information: Media can access tomorrow's market opening from 9:20 a.m. - 9:35 a.m., EST, on Telstar 6 C/transponder 18. The downlink frequency is 4060 horizontal; audio: 6.2/6.8. The feed is also available on Waterfront fiber 1623. Heather Patterson at the NASDAQ Traffic Department (646-441-5220) is the contact for questions regarding feed information

FOR MORE INFORMATION
R. Paul Maxwell, AVP, Corporate Communications
1.800.522.6542 (x. 85252) or 228.214.5252
Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
1.800.522.6542 (x. 85242) or 228.214.5242